Fire on Us from the Sky

Question 1. Why did war come to Benson, Alepho and Benjamin's homeland? Who was fighting and why? How did the government and the rebel forces use propaganda (manipulating facts and media to achieve their goals) to further their position in the war?

Why did war come to Benson, Alepho and Benjamin's homeland? In 1959, violence between the Tutsi and Hutu erupted. Hutus overthrew Tutsi rule, declared an independent republic and elected the first Hutu president, Greg wa Kayabanda. Mass killings of Tutsis occurred during the transition to Hutu rule.

Who was fighting and why? The British colonists created a strict system of racial classification, the Tutsi were a superior group because they were more “white looking” The colonists believed that the Tutsi were natural rulers, so they put only Tutsis into positions of authority and discriminated against Hutus and Twa.

TheHow did the government and the rebel forces use propaganda (manipulating facts and media to achieve their goals) to further their position in the war? They distributed lists of people who were to be targeted and killed. Messages of hate were broadcast over the radio, encouraging the killing of Tutsi and opponents to the Hutu regime. The messages portrayed Tutsis as evil cockroaches and rats.

Question 2. What hardships did Benson, Alepho and Benjamin endure because of the war? What does the African proverb When two elephant’s fight, it is the grass that gets trampled mean to you?

What hardships did Benson,Alepho, and Benjamin endure because of the War? Loosing their families, watching women get raped, their friends get killed, and just the overall affect that it causes to the brain.

What does the African proverb When two elephant’s fight, it is the grass that gets trampled mean to you? It means to me that when two elephants or two powerful leaders fight, it injures the grass, or the middle and low class citizens.

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...thirst, and disease. The refugee camps they eventually filtered through offered little respite from the brutality they were fleeing.
In They Poured Fire on UsFrom the Sky, Benson, Alepho, and Benjamin, by turn, recount their experiences along this unthinkable journey. This is a captivating memoir of Sudan and a powerful portrait of war as seen through the eyes of children. And it is, in the end, an inspiring and unforgettable tale of three young boys who, cast against all elements, had the will, the tenacity, and the very good luck to survive.
TEACHING AND READING GUIDE
In the Classroom
This disarmingly intimate memoir delves beyond headlines to bring readers deep into the heart of the Sudanese conflict – and into the flight of three children determined to escape it. It deciphers Sudan’s struggle from the inside. Who is fighting it? Why? Who are the victims? How did these boys survive without food, without family, for so long?
At the same time, the journey of Benson, Alephonsion, and Benjamin over these many years and these thousand miles reveals how small minds comprehend and process the violence of war. Their story also begs the question: Can and should the international community intervene? What can be done?
Pre-Reading Activity
Have students bring in recent news articles and clippings regarding developments in Sudan. Try to piece together the conflict...

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Ian Johnson
They Poured Fire on usfrom the Sky Summary
Ms. Bivins
They Poured Fire on usfrom the Sky was a courageous tale about three young men; Benson Deng, Alephension Deng and Benjamin Ajak. Through the story these three young men experienced some really harsh treatment. The Dinka tribe was their homeland a peaceful, grassy and active homeland, until the Muslims came. All the commotion happened when the Dinka tribe refused to participate in Islam’s culture. Islam did not like their refusal so they started the Sudanese Civil War. Islam invaded all tribes of south Sudan; they burnt homes, killed people, stole cattle and overall raised hatred and a lot of commotion. People started to hide, run and basically migrate to other places now that their beloved home and tribe was now burnt and destroyed. This is how The Lost boys from Sudan started. The Lost Boys from Sudan was a very large group of male toddlers, boys and men. This group was so angry even the places they stopped at the people there were angry and pitiful. They experienced over 5 months of walking to Kenya with an additional break every once in a while. Many of them died while walking because of yellow fever, thirst, hunger or sickness. The boys and men had to work hard carrying things up hill going to fetch...

...at least a little something the U.S. have done more to prevent more lost boys or child soldiers.
What was life like in the refugee camps? People from Sudan fled to the refugee camps in northeastern Kenya in 1991. The UNHCR supports the refugee camps, which are located near the borders with Somalia and Sudan. Refugees are confined to their camps because they are not legally allowed to enter other parts of Kenya.
Refugee families live in housing units such as huts or tents, which are in close proximity.
The major source of livelihood is limited to relief food supplies donated by the international community through the UNHCR and World Food Program (WFP). Refugees are not legally allowed by asylum countries to travel freely from the camps to nearby cities. Refugees living in camps have limited access to official work permits in the asylum countries. They lack self-sufficiency and means for an income. Health care services in most camps are very limited. Quality of education offered to refugee children is inadequate and sub-standard to one offered to the native children of the host country. Host communities perceive refugees as a burden on local economies. Sometimes the UNHCR allocates part of its funds for the development of host communities to lessen hostility toward the refugees. Refugee girls and women suffer from additional abuses such as rape. This kind of abuse routinely takes place in camps located in insecure...

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